Here I am with three of the precious Abby’s Garden kids.
Our recent trip went really well!
We were able to spend some time at the beach with the director of Abby’s Garden, Divina, and her family. It was good to have this time together, away from the busyness and noise of the bustling daycare.
Back in November, I let you all know that our beloved Tania was being forced to quit by her husband. She is very sad not to be at AG anymore, and everyone misses her so much. I saw firsthand what an impact she had made when she came to the meeting we held with the parents, so that she could formally say goodbye. She spoke about how much it meant to her to have been part of the kids’ lives, and how much she has missed them in the 1.5 months since she stopped working. There were several misty eyes by the time she was done. Please pray for Tania. As you may recall, she became a believer as a result of Divina’s consistency in sharing the Gospel and inviting her to church. She was baptized and has been a regular attender at church, along with her daughter Ashley, but her husband is not a believer. We are not sure of the reason he demanded that she quit AG, but it is hard for her, and her marriage is not easy.
Thankfully, we have found someone to take her place, so we still have five women caring for the children and sharing in the workload. Her name is Daiyana, and she is the oldest of nine kids, so although young (18), she has a lot of experience caring for young children. What is so incredible to me is that she is Haitian, and normally Dominicans are very prejudiced toward Haitians. It speaks to the power of the Gospel and the love Christians have for one another, that at Abby’s Garden, she is accepted and valued.
Things went so well on this visit that we, together with the directors of our mission agency, have made the decision that we will only be traveling to the Dominican Republic once a year. There simply is no need to spend the extra money it requires to take a second trip there, when Divina is doing such a good job running the daycare, reaching out to the parents, and caring for the children, along with the four other women who work there. The saddest part for me is that I will not get to see these precious children as often.
I was able to bring some gently-used toys that someone had generously gifted.
It is always fun to be able to bring new toys and books, paint supplies, etc when I make my visits.
Prayer Request and New Need
While I was there, Divina let me know that the minimum wage law is changing in the Dominican Republic, and soon the wage we are paying the women will be less than the new wage required by law. This means that we need a significant increase in monthly support. While raising supporters can be difficult, honestly I am thankful for this change, because I have wanted to give these women a raise for quite some time. While the wage is typical for the DR, it isn’t much, and these women work really hard. They definitely deserve more. Will you prayerfully consider becoming a monthly donor, or if you already are, increasing what you give if you are able?
We are so grateful for your partnership in this ministry! All glory to God for the work He is doing!
Click this link to become a monthly supporter of Abby’s Garden
With love,
Tonya